The legal drama opposing the two stars of the drama “Nevermore”, released last summer in cinemas, continues with a new complaint filed.
Accused of sexual harassment by the star of “Gossip Girl”, the actor, who is also the director of the film, is suing the New York court for defamation and extortion.
Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively’s husband, is also the subject of this legal action.
He gave himself time to prepare his defense. Sued since the holidays by actress Blake Lively for sexual harassment on the set of the drama Never againactor and director Justin Baldoni in turn responds in court. According to his lawyer Bryan Freedman, the civil complaint for defamation and extortion filed in New York is based on “an overwhelming amount of authentic evidence detailing Blake Lively and her team’s attempt to destroy Justin Baldoni, his team and their respective companies by releasing grossly arranged, unsubstantiated and doctored information to the media”. He asks the star of Gossip Girl and her husband Ryan Reynolds, also cited, at least $400 million in damages.
Unconsensual kisses and smear campaign
The affair was brought to light in December by the New York Times which revealed in a long investigation the content of the complaint filed by Blake Lively against Justin Baldoni and producer Jamey Health, denouncing inappropriate behavior and comments, particularly of a sexual nature, on the set. Adapted from Colleen Hoover’s best-seller of the same name, this drama in which the heroine is a victim of domestic violence was a great success at the box office with more than 350 million dollars reported for a budget of 25 million. In France, more than 1.3 million curious people visited the cinemas.
Blake Lively notably accuses Justin Baldoni, director of the film in which he also plays one of the main roles, of having improvised several kisses without her consent and of having made fun of her weight when she had just given birth to her fourth child. She says the producer looked at her topless in her dressing room and asked her not to turn around. The complaint also details a smear campaign allegedly launched using a crisis management agency to discredit the actress and her possible statements.
-False, retorts Justin Baldoni who believes on the contrary in his complaint that Blake Lively sought to “want” et “take control” of the film and its promotion. He accuses him of extortion, defamation and violation of his privacy. He previously launched defamation suits against the New York Timesfrom whom he asks 250 million dollars for his article. Undoubtedly the start of a long legal duel between the camps of the two actors.
